Rugby league/Union has always been an intensely physical game and one that strains its players' bodies to the very limits of their abilities and tests every part of the body.

This is even more true now than ever and coaches need to respond to that fact, not only if they want to be more successful but for their players' welfare. For this reason, many of the traditional methods of physical conditioning may need to be revisited with an eye to improving the amateur team's in-game physicality and performance. This article contains just a few tips on improving your technique.

Classically, many amateur rugby league/union trainers tend to spend a large amount of their training time doing drills and coaching that have little to do with rugby – for example running or other physical exercise where players are nowhere near the ball. This is not how you'd like them to spend the game – so why should they spend the training in this way? This training does not simulate the actual stresses of a game, and it wastes valuable time that could be spent upping skills levels or developing your game plan. Of course fitness is important, but there are ways to combine fitness with decision making, skills and game simulating training.

Skills based conditioning is the name given to such training techniques. They are invaluable for the team as they encourage players to make decisions when tired and sore – the natural state during a game of rugby! Equally, they get the body used to the kinds of impacts and sudden bursts of activity that a game entails. Often this form of conditioning provides a much fuller work out to the body than regular physical training. A series of sprints with sudden and unpredictable changes of direction is much more useful to the rugby player than a fixed sprinting or running drill and develops an athleticism particular to the game. Training  like this also improves agility and balance, key attributes for any rugby player. The element of competition will often push a player harder than usual and give an intense physical session.

The form this conditioning takes is entirely up to you as a coach. Generally, such sessions take the form of a game, often with modified rules, sometimes with full contact. When deciding on these games, you should take into account both the skill you want to improve (e.g. passing, communication, field position etc) and the physical conditioning effect you want it to have (e.g. improving speed). Naturally, the game should also be adapted to the specific physical and mental needs of your players.

Of course, skills based conditioning is not the be all and end all of rugby coaching. Most amateur clubs will continue to have a mixture between purely physical training and skills coaching (as even professional sides do). However, incorporating it into your coaching routine could save you time and effort and improve your players' game sense at the same time as their physical condition.